Moon Covers Aldebaran February 2018

Equipment | Ricoh GR Photos | Leica M (Typ 240) Photos | Conclusions | Links

The following photos of the moon covering Aldebaran were taken on February 23, 2018 with the digital cameras Ricoh GR and Leica M (Typ 240). Incidentally, the next Aldebaran covering will not be visible in our latitudes until 2033.

The photos were taken starting at about 17:50 o'clock, when Aldebaran was "swallowed" by the moon on its dark side. About an hour later, about 18:50 o'clock, Aldebaran reappeared on the bright side of the moon and then moved farther and farther away from it.

I had mounted the Leica M (Tpy 240) to the Skymax-127 by means of a T-mount adapter. This can be seen in section Equipment and is described in more detail elsewhere. I had also built up the Skymax-102 so that my wife was able to observe the covering in parallel. Fortunately, I took some photos with the Ricoh GR on this telescope from time to time, because the results with the Leica M on the Skymax-27 were disappointing. I held the Ricoh GR to the eyepiece of the Skymax-102 using the 1:50 method.

 

Equipment

    

Skymax-102

Skymax-127 to the left and below

    

Skymax 102, Skymax-127 in the background

         

 

    

    

 

Ricoh GR Photos

Before the Covering

    

2400 pixels

 

2400 pixels

    

2400 pixels

 

2400 pixels

Section only

    

1800 pixels

 

1800 pixels

    

1800 pixels

 

1800 pixels

After the Covering

    

2400 pixels

 

2400 pixels

 

Leica M (Typ 240) Photos

Since the photos with the Leica M (type 240) are blurred from camera shae for unknown reasons, you never see Aldebaran as a point, but always see a small movement track...

Before the Covering

         

Aldebaran still there - 2500 pixels

 

Ditto - 2500 pixels

 

Aldebaran covered - 2500 pixels

    

Enlarged sections from the last two photos with Aldebaran to better demonstrate camera shake

After the Covering

Here are the first "photo-sightings" on the bright side of the moon (approx. 18:50 o' clock) in 200% magnification (the caprioles of Aldebaran are to be owed to the camera and the photographer):

    

First clearer view of Aldebaran

 

Three photos later, Aldebaran was even better to see...

Here are four samples including "Aldebaran tracks" from a little later:

    
   

2700 pixels

 

2700 pixels

 

2700 pixels

 

2700 pixels

Sections only

    

1800 pixels

 

1800 pixels

 

1800 pixels

 

1800 pixels

 

Conclusions

All in all, it was exciting to observe and photograph Aldebaran's covering by the moon and its reappearance. In my case, however, this included a technical test, namely the first use of the Leica M (Typ 240) at the T-Mount connector of my Skymax-127, which unfortunately was not very successful. Fortunately, the Ricoh GR, which I held with my hand to the eyepiece of my Skymax-102, saved the situation so that a few usable shots were made.

 

Links

 

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gerd (at) waloszek (dot) de

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27.02.2018